Marvin Motter

1945 - 2021

TURTLE CREEK TOWNSHIP - Devoted husband, father, grandfather, agriculture educator, and lifelong farmer, Marvin Keith Motter, 76, went home to be with his Lord Jesus Christ on Saturday, November 6, 2021. He passed away peacefully at his home in Turtle Creek Township. Keith was a lifelong resident of Shelby County.

Keith was born in Sidney, Ohio January 3, 1945, to the late Arthur G. and Luella (Bailey) Motter. He grew up raising Ayrshire dairy cattle, Chester White hogs, and grain on his family's farm. He was a 4-H and FFA member who exhibited his animals at the county and state fairs. He was a 1963 graduate of Houston High School.

He married Sue Kindle on December 11, 1964, at New Hope EUB Church; she survives. The couple lived their 57 years of marriage in Turtle Creek Township. They raised their two children, son Rev. Jeffrey A. Motter (Rev. Becky Schofield Motter), an elder in the West Ohio Conference United Methodist Church serving at St. Andrew's UMC in Findlay, and daughter Jo Anna DeMotte, a lifelong educator living in Sidney and serving at Auglaize County Educational Academy; both survive. Keith has three granddaughters, Rhea (Isaac) Long, Regan DeMotte, Hannah Motter, and one grandson, Joshua Trueman-Motter, all of whom survive. He is also survived by his brother, Russell (Carol) Motter of Corsicana, Texas.

As a farmer, Keith raised various crops, polled Dorset sheep, Chester White hogs, and New Zealand rabbits. He served as the secretary of the state Chester White Association and worked as a hog barn superintendent at the Ohio State Fair for 29 years. He served as a director and president of the Ohio State New Zealand Rabbit Association.

Keith taught a variety of Agriculture Education courses at Upper Valley Career Center and Fort Loramie High School for 32 years after completing his education licensing through The Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio. In this capacity, he developed student leaders as an FFA advisor and farmers through Young Farmers. He pioneered the Electronic Record Books for Agricultural Education students and served on several state Agricultural Education Department Committees. He was a member of the Shelby County Fair Board for 12 years, serving 7 years as Fair Board Secretary. With other Fair Board members, he spent many hours working to improve the grounds and the fair so the public would have a positive fair experience. He assisted the sale committee for many years by weighing market hogs for the fair and even judged a rabbit breeding show once when a judge failed to appear.

Keith has been inducted into the Ohio State Fair Swine Hall of Fame, the Shelby County 4-H Hall of Fame and the Shelby County Fair Hall of Fame and has received an Honorary State FFA Degree from the Ohio State FFA Association.

Keith was a lifelong member of the New Hope United Methodist (formerly EUB) Church, serving in a variety of ways including as a Trustee and Administrative Board Chair. He recommitted his life to Jesus Christ and lived out his God-given purpose to serve youth and others and help them grow as leaders.

The family wishes to thank the caring staff of Wilson Home Health and Hospice, Dr. Stephen Blatchly and his team, and the James Center at The Ohio State University for their help with Keith's medical needs.

A private Celebration of Life will be held later. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in Keith's honor may be made to New Hope UMC, 8985 W. Mason Road, Sidney, OH 45365.

Hanneman Funeral Home of Findlay is honored to serve Keith's family and those wishing to send an online condolence or a fond memory are asked to visit www.hannemanfuneralhomes.com